fans and teammates cheering on Lancer track athletesThe Windsor Lancers will host the 2018 Ontario University Athletics track and field championship tournament this weekend at the St. Denis Centre.

Dennis Fairall Fieldhouse to host provincial track meet this weekend

The province’s best track and field athletes will convene at the University of Windsor this weekend looking to run, jump, and throw their way to glory at the 2018 Ontario University Athletics championship tournament.

The host Windsor Lancers enter the meet as the third-ranked women’s team in Canada, led by Kelsey Balkwill, ranked No. 1 in the 300m and 600m, as well as No. 5 in the 60m nationally. Teammate Stefanie Smith is currently ranked fourth in the nation in both the 1500m and 3000m distances.

Windsor is also in a strong position in the field events, with Sarah Mitton and Rachel Wolfs setting a high standard. Mitton looks to repeat as the gold medallist in shot put and improve on a fourth-place finish in the weight throw event. Wolfs enters the championship ranked first in the nation in pole vault after second-place finishes the past two years.

On the men’s side, the Lancers will be looking for leadership from fifth-year veterans Jaiden Brown and Brett Boersma. Brown comes into the weekend ranked third nationally in the 60m, while Boersma hopes to better last year’s third-place finish in shot put.

The men’s weight throw event will open the championships at 10 a.m. Friday, February 23, with the men’s 4x400m relay closing the action at 3:15 p.m. Saturday, February 24. Individual medal presentations and recognition of all-star achievements for all events will take place throughout the meet, while team trophies, banners, and championship medals will be presented following the final events on Saturday.

Details can be found in the 2018 Track & Field Championships Fan Guide. Find a full meet preview at goLancers.ca.